Shan families flee from forced labor

_{By: Kwarn Lake}
 
In the early December 2007, a 45 strong force from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 518, commanded by Lieutenant Win Myint Tun, was assigned to build a new military base 15 miles west of Mong Nai.
 
The lieutenant ordered the villagers in Wan Loi and Pang Paw to build the new base, 25 people per day from each village, said a source.
 
"The villagers have been working for nearly 2 months, digging and clearing the ditches, putting up a fences, tilling of soil for farm, planting flowers and building for the soldiers. It is not yet finished. The people are unable to do their own work and their families are suffering from starvation, and therefore, they fled to the border", said the source.
 
"If we were not able to work, we had to find a replacement by paying Kyat 1,500  and the junta said that if the villagers are not able to go and work, their village would be fined Kyat 3000 per day", said one of the villager who fled to the Thai border .
 
Many wanting to leave, however, there are still many families who are unable to flee to the border due to the high cost of crossing the border, costing between K 250,000 to 300,000 (about $ 200 to 240) per person.
 
"The villagers who remain behind are still working for the army and it is difficult for them to decide whether to live or to leave", added the villager.
 
Meanwhile, the families that fled to the Thai border are also facing difficulties working as illegal workers, earning B80 ($ 2.4) for men and B70 ($ 2.1) for women per day.
 
"We have no extra money for emergencies such as health care. Our wage is just enough for day to day survival", he said.
 
According to Burma's opposition sources, the Burma Army have increased from 168 infantry battalions in 1988 to 727 infantry battalions in 2007, increasing  330% in total.